Bathymetric Measurements of Morskie Oko Lake

The aim of this study was to gather and summarize bathymetric measurements of Morskie Oko Lake which have been carried out up to now. Apart from the two existing plans from 1909 and 1934, a plan presenting the arrangement of isobaths in 1879 was worked out on the basis of numerical data. Moreover, after field investigation with an echo sounder in 2011, a new bathymetric plan was created. All four plans were used to calculate the basic morphometric parameters of Morskie Oko. Bathygraphic curves were determined from the volume of water found by measuring the areas between consecutive isobaths. The least accurate data come from 1879 while there is a considerable resemblance between the plans dated to 1934 and 2011. In case of the most recent plan, the measurements were for the first time related to the average, multi-annual (1963–2010) water level. Thus, the greatest depth found in 2011 can be regarded as the maximum depth. Further bathymetric studies could help to determine the rate of shallowing of Morskie Oko lake caused by weathered rock material, transported for instance by avalanches.